Traceability of pre-packaged foods

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 2011/91/EU on indications or marks identifying the lot to which a foodstuff belongs

SUMMARY

WHAT DOES THIS DIRECTIVE DO?

—	It makes sure that consumers can trace the origin of pre-packaged foods.

—	It requires these foods to be labelled so that consumers can see which lot they come from.

—	It ensures that public health and food safety authorities can find out the origin and identity of pre-packaged foods in the event that these are the subject of a dispute or are a health hazard for consumers.

—	It sets out rules for producers, manufacturers, packagers and importers for labelling these foods using a common lot identification system.

KEY POINTS

Scope

The Directive applies to all pre-packaged foods apart from:

—	agricultural products which are: — in temporary storage, preparation or packaging stations; — transported to producers’ organisations; or — collected for immediate processing.

—	foods that are not prepackaged when on sale to the final consumer, are packaged at the purchaser's request or prepackaged for immediate sale;

—	packaging or containers whose largest side is less than 10cm2;

—	individual portions of ice cream packaged together, where the lot identification must appear on the outside of the combined package.

Labelling of lots

—	Each lot must be labelled by the producer, manufacturer or packager, or the first seller based within the EU if it is imported.

—	The lot identification must be preceded by the letter ‘L’ except if is clearly distinguishable from the other information on the label.

—	The information on the label must be easily visible, clearly legible and indelible.

—	There is no need to indicate the lot if the ‘use by’ date appears on the label.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?

It has applied since 5 January 2012.

KEY TERM

* Lot: a batch of sales units of a foodstuff produced, manufactured or packaged under practically the same conditions

ACT

Directive 2011/91/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on indications or marks identifying the lot to which a foodstuff belongs (OJ L 334, 16.12.2011, pp. 1–5)

last update 23.11.2015